RMS PTO Welcome Packet

RMS PTO Welcome Packet

Table of Contents

RMS PTO Welcome Packet

RMS GOOD TO KNOW:

GLOSSARY OF RMS LINGO:

COMMUNICATION and MEDIA:

(How to be in touch)

FORMS:

ATHLETICS:

AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES and CLUBS:

ARTS:

RADNOR TRADITIONS: For all things Radnor visit

SUMMER CAMP:

RMS Parent Teacher Organization (PTO):

RMS GOOD TO KNOW:

Principal:Esther Purnell610-386-6300ext 7501

Assistant Principal:Dr. Douglas Kent610-386-6300ext 7502

6th Grade Guidance Counselor:Ms. Lauren Raines610-386-6300 ext. 7513

7th Grade Guidance Counselor:Mr. Christopher Brown 610-386-6300 ext. 7512

8th Grade Guidance Counselor:Mr. Clyde Diehl 610-386-6300 ext. 7511

Radnor Township School District Website:

RTSD Administration Building:610-688-8100

RTSD Transportation:610-293-1947

RMS PTO Student Directory: Purchase in the front office at RMS. To register your family’s information in the directory, please visit

Safe Arrival: 610-688-0930 Call when your child will be late or absent from school.

Snow Information: 610-688-8104 A district-wide recorded phone call will be placed to families alerting of any school closing or delay. The KYW 1060 Radio School Code is 457.

Sports Hot Line: In case of inclement weather call sports hot line at 610-386-6300, push option 3. Call after 1:00pm.

GLOSSARY OF RMS LINGO:

Advisory

Period during the school day for independent study, extra help, group meetings and makeup work.

Essentials, Band, Orchestra and Chorus meet at this time.

A.S.K. (Alliance for Safe Kids)

Program run by a collaboration of parents, school administrators and Radnor Township to promote

positive life choices and raise awareness about at-risk behaviors.

Assignment Notebook

Spiral notebook given to every student at the beginning of the school year. Parents should check the

assignment notebook for short-term and long-term assignments.

Bus Loop

The semi-circular drive that encircles the administration building. Students board busses in this area.

Electives

Classes scheduled two periods per day for all grades that include World Language, FaCS, Tech Ed,

Music, Art, P.E. and Health.

E.L.L. (English Language Learners)

Course offered to students who need assistance with the English language.

EZ SchoolPay

Account to pay for school meals and allows you to view students’ purchases. To enroll click “EZ School

Pay” on the RMS home page.

FaCS (Family and Consumer Sciences)

Course offered to grades 6-8 that teaches life skills such as nutrition, cooking, childhood

development, sewing, time management and conflict resolution.

Gym Clothes

Students are required to purchase a t-shirt for physical education class. Purchase in the RMS office or at Back to School night in the fall.

HAC (Home Access Center)

View your student’s classroom schedule, assignments, test scores and grades.

Click “HAC” on the RMS home page.

Integrated Programs

Nationally recognized programs that are year-long alternatives to traditional curriculum. Eligibility is

based on a lottery program. Registration occurs in the spring of the prior school year. RMS offers four

programs:

Crossroads (6th grade) Combines the study of language arts, social studies and science to explore issues related to communities and cultures.

Watershed (7th grade)Skills and concepts are integrated around the comprehensive study of a local watershed through a combination of classroom activities and site visits.

Gateway (8th grade)An award-winning multidisciplinary team incorporating STEM education.

Soundings (8th grade)Exploration of student-selected themes that merge their adolescent concerns with global issues.

Intramural Club

Program of faculty-led activities held Monday through Thursday after school. Offerings vary from year

to year but usually include athletics, dramatic arts and curriculum related subjects. Late busses are

notprovided.

Language Arts

Study that entails the combined instruction of English, reading and composition.

LGI (Large Group Instruction room

Located on the 3rdfloor, behind the auditorium.

Lockers

Students are assigned a locker near their advisory classroom and will receive a combination lock from

RMS. Lockers are available in the gym for use during P.E.but students must provide their own lock for

these lockers.

Main & Auxiliary Gym

The main gym is used for most athletic activities. The auxiliary gym is used primarily for Physical

Education classes

Media Center

Also known as the Library, located on the third floor.

MS Hope

Student assistance program to provide support to students who are facing challenges. Please contact

Yourguidance counselor for more information.

Parent Information Night

Also known as Back to School Night or Open House, it’s an evening where parents have an opportunity

to briefly meet their student’s teachers and receive an overview of the year’s curriculum.

Parent Resource Library

The guidance department offers a library of books on parenting you may borrow.

Radnor Reader

Weekly email announcements sent by RTSD regarding school, district and community information.

Replaced eminders. Sign up by clicking “E-News” at the top, right-hand corner of RTSD.org

PTO (Parent Teacher Organization)

Non-profit volunteer group that sponsors and supports the RMS community through fundraising,

grants,and scheduled events and activities. All RMS parents and guardians are members.

Standardized Tests

Assessment tests given throughout the school year. The testing calendar and information on each test

can be found on the RMS homepage under “Important Links”. Tests include MAPS, ERBs, PSSAs, IAAT

Schoology

Online system available to students and parents in which teachers can share handouts and post

assignments, the class calendar and class updates.

Student Bulletins

Student directed announcements displayed on a screen in the cafeteria during the lunch periods.

Parentscan view them on the RMS webpage under "Quick Links" on the left-hand side of the home

page.

Student Social

Grade specific, themed events at RMS hosted by the PTO.

Teams (Academic)

Teachers and students are grouped in teams for academic core classes, including math, language arts,

social studies and science. Students will be in class with team members for core subjects, but will be

assigned to specials with students from other teams.

Team Planning Time

Period scheduled each day during which faculty on the same team meet. Parents may request an

appointment to meet with the faculty team at this time.

Tech Ed: Technology Education

Course that is an overview of technology in our world.

W.E.B. (Where Everyone Belongs

8th grade students mentor incoming 6th grade students to ensure a smooth transition to middle

school.

World Language

French, German, Latin and Spanish are offered beginning in the 6th grade.

COMMUNICATION and MEDIA:

(How to be in touch)

• The Radnor Reader: Weekly announcements with RMS information that are emailed weekly. Sign up to receive the Radnor Reader here: RMS homepage and click the icon in the upper, right hand corner of the homepage.
• HAC (Home Access Center): View students’ schedules, assignments, tests and grades. Click the Home Access Center link on the RMS homepage
• PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) link: Find out about events and sign up to be involved. Go to RMS homepage and click PTO tab at top of page.
• STUDENT BULLETINS: Student Bulletins are posted daily on the TV in the RMS cafeteria and online. Click the “Student Bulletin” link on the RMS homepage.
• Teacher web pages: Go to RMS homepage and click the Teacher Web Pages tab. Search for teachers alphabetically by last name.

FORMS:

• Absentee cards for excused absence are available from the main office at school or at
• Emergency Medicalforms are available at
• Pennsylvania health law requires the following physical and dental exams for entry into school and continued attendance: For more information, click on Health Services under the “Supports & Services” tab on the RMS homepage

• Physical Exams
• Required for original entry into school (kindergarten or first grade), and again in grades 6 and 11
• Required for all students who transfer from outside Pennsylvania

• Dental Exams
• Required for original entry into school (kindergarten or first grade), and again in grades 3 and 7
• Required for all students who transfer from outside Pennsylvania
• Athletic forms - See ATHLETICS

ATHLETICS:

Radnor Middle School:

Radnor Middle School has a variety of interscholastic teams for 7th and 8th grade students. There are no interscholastic teams for 6th grade students. Coaches schedule an informational meeting the first week of school for Fall Sports, a meeting in early to mid-November for Winter sports and a meeting in late February for Spring sports. These meetings are advertised on the Student Bulletin and during morning announcements. Pennsylvania Athletic Association (PIAA) and emergency medical forms are required. Deadlines for these forms will be provided at the meetings mentioned above. These forms can be found at the following link The school offers transportation to and from away games. Transportation is not offered home from RMS after games. General information can be found at the following link: or contact our Middle School Athletic Director, George Hahn. He can be reached at

Radnor Township Youth Sports Organizations:

Radnor Township sponsors a youth sports program through the Radnor Athletic Association (RAA). This organization includes sports programs within the township that include basketball, lacrosse, soccer, baseball, girls’ softball, girls’ volleyball and aquatics. Details on these programs can be found through the following link: The township also has information about community pool and swimming lessons on the Township website found at

BE SURE TO CHECK REGISTRATION DEADLINES FOR ALL SPORTS

BASEBALL:

Radnor Middle School:

• Spring sport
• Separate 7th and 8th grade boys’ teams
• Practice and home games occur at Odorisio Park and North Wayne Park.

Radnor Township:

• Spring Sport
• Kindergarten through age 16
• Tee Ball through Senior League
• Registration begins in January
• Deadlines, Fees and more information can be found at Radnor Wayne Little League

BASEBALL (FALL BALL)

Radnor Township Only:

• Fall Sport - Fall Ball runs from Labor Day weekend until about the first week of November.
• Registration occurs during August. It is a much smaller and more intense program than regular, Spring season little league baseball.There is a bit of travel involved. The travel is very manageable in terms of distance and time.
• If you are eligible for Radnor Wayne Little League, which is an age-based organization, then you can participate in Fall Ball.
• Just remember, it’s first come, first served, and space is limited.
• 3rd grade is the youngest age allowed in the fall ball program of RWLL

BASKETBALL

Radnor Middle School:

• Winter sport
• Girls’ Teams
• Boys’ Teams
• Separate 7th and 8th grade teams
• Team try-outs are in late November. The season continues through February.
• Practices are held at RMS and Sulpizio Gym. Home games are held at Radnor Middle School.

Radnor Township:

• Winter Sport
• Registration begins in September and runs through mid-November.
• Hoops Clinic is for grades 1 & 2; Youth basketball is for grades 3 to 12. Players are placed on teams/in leagues by their current grade level.
• Hoops Clinic starts at the beginning of January and runs through mid-March. They meet once a week on Saturdays. Youth Basketball starts in December and runs through mid-March. Games start at the beginning of January. There is typically at least one practice during the week and a game onSaturdays. This does vary though depending on team and grade division.
• Deadlines, Fees and more information can be found at Radnor Sports .com

CHEERLEADING

Radnor Township Only:

• Fall sport
• Ages 5-13
• Deadline, Fees and more information can be found at

DANCE – See ARTS

FIELD HOCKEY

Radnor Middle School:

• Fall sport
• Girls Teams
• Separate 7th and 8th grade teams
• Practices and Home games are held at Radnor Middle School.

Other Options:

• FILIA – girls youth sport organization
• Grades 1-9

FOOTBALL

Radnor Middle School:

• Fall sport
• Combined 7th & 8th Grade Boys onto 2 teams
• Two teams: one for athletes 115 pounds or less (Pound Team), and the other for players over 115 pounds (Unlimited Team)
• Students will be bused to Radnor High School and practice on Creek Field. Buses will depart from the bus loop at 3:10.

Other Options:

• Fall Flag Football Ages 5-9
• Fall Tackle FootballAges 7 – 12, and 13 year olds under 120lbs.
• Deadlines, Fees and Other Info can be found at

LACROSSE

Radnor Middle School:

• Spring sport
• Girls Teams
• Boys Teams
• Separate 7th and 8th grade teams
• Practices and games are held at Radnor Middle School.

Radnor Township:

• Spring sport
• Boys Teams
• Girls Teams
• Registration for both teams start mid December
• Grades 1-8th for both boys and girls teams

SOFTBALL

Radnor Middle School:

• Spring sport
• Separate 7th and 8th grade girls teams
• Practice and home games occur at Radnor Middle School.

Radnor Township:

• Spring Sport
• Grades K-7th
• Tee Ball through Majors
• Registration begins in January

• Deadlines, Fees and more information can be found at Radnor Wayne Little League

SOCCER/INDOOR SOCCER

Radnor Middle School:

• Fall sport
• Boys and Girls Teams
• Separate 7th and 8th grade teams
• Practice and home games occur at Odorisio Park and North Wayne Park.

Radnor Township

• Spring Sport
• Boys and Girls Teams
• Kindergarten through 12th Grade
• In House and Travel soccer options
• Registration begins in March
• Deadlines, Fees and more information can be found at Radnor Soccer Club

SQUASH

Radnor Middle School: (an after school RMS Club Sport)

• Girls and Boys - Winter Sport
• Open to 6th – 8th Graders – any level of squash ability
• Timing: After School during the week, roughly December 1 through February 15
• Fun learning environment and team experience – lifelong sport
• Matches and possible tournament play involved
• Practice and matches at Fairmount Athletic Club (5-year relationship)
• Coached by Fairmount pros and RHS teacher, Paul Wright
• Coaches to visit RMS in the fall to introduce the program
• Fall program of clinics / practice offered for those wanting more squash

SWIMMING

Radnor Township Only

• Fall/Winter/ Spring Sport
• Starts at age 5
• Deadlines, Fees and more information can be found at Radnor Aquatic Club
• Community Pool Information can be found at

TENNIS

Radnor Middle School:

• Girls - Fall sport
• Boys – Spring sport
• Separate 7th and 8th grade teams
• Practice and home games occur at Radnor Middle School.

TRACK & FIELD

Radnor Middle School:

• Girls – Spring Sport
• Boys – Spring Sport

VOLLEYBALL

Radnor Middle School:

• Girls - Fall sport
• Separate 7th and 8th grade teams
• Practice and home games occur at Radnor Middle School.

WRESTLING

Radnor Middle School:

• Boys - Winter sport
• Separate 7th and 8th grade teams
• Practice and home games occur at Radnor Middle School.

AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES and CLUBS:

After school clubs are a great way for sixth graders to get involved in school activities. The intramural clubs include: Art Club, Community Service Club, Handbells, Video Club, “It’s a Matter of Choice Club”, Tech Club, Pen Pal Popcorn Club, Math Counts, Knitting Club, Aevidum, MAR, Cubing Club, Lego Club are just some of the options available to the students.

See Student Bulletin: Student Bulletins are posted daily on the TV in the RMS cafeteria and online. Click the “Student Bulletin” link on the RMS homepage.

(The following sections of the Welcome Packet provide just some of the many options available in our community for activities outside of school. The RMS PTO is not promoting or suggesting that any of the providers are preferred.)

ARTS:

Dance

• The Chosen
• Contempra Dance
• Wayne Ballet
• YMCA, Berwyn, PA

Music

• RMS : For info on Chorus, Concert Band, Jazz Band and the Handbell Ensemble, go to the RMS home page-Departments-Music
• Bach to Rock
• Nelly Berman School of Music
• Meridee Winters School of Music
• Music Training Center
• Music Workshop
• Troubadour Music Shop

Theater

• RMS Musical: Go to RMS home page and find more information under Activities and Athletics-All School Musical
• RMS Chorus: Go to RMS home page and find more information under Academics-Music . Available to 6th, 7th and 8th Graders.
• Music Training Center
• People’s Light and Theater
• Upper Darby Performing Arts Center
• Wolf Performing Arts Center

Tutoring

• Prime Academics
• Main Line Student Success

RADNOR TRADITIONS:For all things Radnor visit

• Walk through Wayne: RMS students love to walk through Wayne after school on Fridays. There is nothing scheduled about this event. It is a casual, social activity for RMS students. It is not supervised or sponsored by RMS.
• May: Memorial Day Parade, Wayne, PA
• June: A Taste of Wayne: Street fair with vendors and restaurants. Wayne, PA
• June/July: Free concerts in parks throughout Radnor. Go to Parks and Rec tab for the schedule.
• July: 4th of July parade in Garrett Hill
• November: Radnor vs. Lower Merion high school football game.
• December: Christmas Tree lighting on N. Wayne Avenue.

SUMMER CAMP:

• Summer Camp and Teen Program Fair in January
• Main Line Camp Fair in January
• Camp information website

RMS Parent Teacher Organization (PTO):

The mission of the Radnor Middle School Parent Teacher Organization (RMS PTO) is to promote mutual understanding, cooperation, and communication among the parents, teachers and administrators of Radnor Middle School and; to provide programs, financing, and other vehicles to enhance and supplement the School District's commitment to providing a high quality education to all students at RMS.